Possibilities after buying a usb audio interface.

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thinfinn

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Hi everyone i'm thinfinn new to this forum,

I am thinking about buying the m audio fast track 8R usb audio interface for multitrack recording purposes, i had thought that would be the better alternative than getting a mixer and sound card seeing as i am on a laptop (good cpu + ram for recording).

But I have always wanted a big analog mixer setup in the end, does anyone know if when I have this interface, i will be able to use a mixing desk to record, and then mix back through it?

I know that some people say when you have an interface like this with preamps and gain control you can use the mixer in the Daw, but will I eventually be able to upgrade to a hardware mixer and still use this interface?

Any help most appreciated !

Thinfinn.
 
Long story short, Yes, but the word upgrade really depends on what kind of mixer and how you use it.

Your interface has eight line inputs and eight line outputs so there are numerous options down the road.

You could either incorporate a mixer on the way in, or the way out.

For example, you could buy a mixer with 8 preamps and 8 direct outputs, then wire the later to your maudio line inputs.
This would let you use the mixers eqs or whatever as you record, but you'd be committed to whatever you do.


The other way around, you'd record using your maudio preamps, mix in your daw, and prepare four subgroups.
Let's say drums(1+2), bass instruments (3+4), rhythm instruments (5+6) and vocals (7+8).

You could pipe these four stereo mixes to a mixing desk (or summing box) then return the stereo product to your DAW in real time via two of the line ins.
This is really just an alternative to digital summing.

Either way would only really be beneificial for two reasons.
Either your mixer is of really high quality with nice preamps/eqs, or you really 'get something' from that method of recording.
IMO, there's little point putting a cheapo behringer in there for the sake of it if you get me. It wont improve your signal path.


Any use?
 
Right, thanks for that reply, I think I would prefer using a mixer for the second option you described, mixing the subgroups back to a stereo track. Because I prefer the idea of mixing on hardware than on a DAW.

I don't suppose I would need a mixer for recording especially as I wouldn't be able to get a quality one with 'unique sound' right at the moment. But just the fact that I would be able to incorporate a hardware mixer into the setup justifies my choice of buying just an interface for now.

(My favourite choice is the M audio fast track 8R but i've also seen the tascam US 1800 comes with cubase LE5, i'm running on windows 7, if it's not too much to ask, I was wondering which one you would recommend?

Thankyou again for the reply, most helpful. :)
 
That's not a bad idea.
If you do happen to have a cheapo mixer, or the loan of one, you could set it up for practice.
OK, it may not yield a better sound, but there's a craft to this kind of thing, and of course you can always just do a digital bounce as well so nothing is lost in trying.

Are you in the UK?



I'll step out now I'm afraid. I don't have first hand experience with either interface or windows 7, but sit tight; Someone will be with you shortly.


<music>

Thank you for holding. Your call is important to us.

:p
 
Yes, well i did have a small 8 track usb mixer before but sold it because it recorded only on stereo, it also didn't have any direct outs so .. it was meant just for recording really..
 
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